Burrell expands behavioral health crisis center hours to 24/7
COLUMBA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Burrell Behavioral Health has expanded the hours of its crisis center to provide mental health assistance around the clock.
The Columbia Behavioral Crisis Center - Rapid Access Unit will now be open 24 hours a day after previously operating from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Director Marissa VanDover said the intention was always to eventually keep it open 24/7.
"We know that people are in crisis outside of business hours, so we've been committed since the beginning to getting this center open 24/7 for our community," VanDover said.
She said in the past, there was not enough staffing to keep the center open overnight. But now, the center will have all of the same services and be able to help more patients for longer time periods, when necessary.
In its 2023 report, the Missouri Department of Mental Health estimated around 922,000 Missourians received some form of mental health services in 2021.
VanDover said since the center opened in 2022, they have seen an increase in the number of people coming in each month.
Gena Terlizzi, executive director at National Alliance on Mental Illness Missouri said the state is in a mental health crisis, largely due to a lack of providers. She said this makes walk-in clinics a valuable resource.
"They're a lifeline," Terlizzi said. "When there is a well-run organization where someone can go in and get treatments, go in and be seen immediately, that is such a huge benefit to the community."
In a news release Thursday, the organization said this walk-in center is similar to an urgent care clinic, where people will receive immediate assistance and when necessary treatment, medication and referrals.
However, this center location is temporary.
The City of Columbia recently awarded Burrell Behavioral Health $3 million in ARPA funding. The funding will allow Burrell to build a larger, permanent Behavioral Crisis Center location on Leslie Lane in the future.
"The location has always been temporary, and the intent was to build a permanent behavioral crisis center," VanDover said. "We are so incredibly grateful to the city for those ARPA dollars that will allow us to have a permanent behavioral crisis center here in Columbia.
The current 24/7 center is located at 1805 E. Walnut Street. It is for adults 18 and older.
Other 24/7 resources available include the 988 hotline, Centerpointe Hospital and Missouri Psychiatric Center.
